Things to Do to Graduate Early From High School
There are a variety of reasons why a student might want to graduate early from high school. Perhaps the coursework in high school is not challenging enough, or he simply might want to get a head start on college. Early graduation is a big decision that you should discuss with your parents and guidance counselors; it can be more costly than finishing high school traditionally, and it requires a lot of maturity, hard work and sacrifice to accumulate the credits you'll need in a shorter period of time. Still, if your mind is made up, there are ways to earn enough credits to graduate a semester or even an entire year early.
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Extra Classes
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To earn enough credits to graduate ahead of schedule, you must take a full course load during your first three years of high school. One way to help do this is by eliminating study halls from your schedule. If you qualify for Advanced Placement, or AP, classes, take as many as possible. AP classes serve a dual purpose of earning high school credit as well as college credit if you achieve a high enough score on the final exams; these courses can save you time and money in college, too.
Online Classes
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Some high schools offer online courses, either on their own or through a partnership with a local university. Taking one or two of these classes each semester, in addition to your regular course load, will help you fulfill your graduation credit requirements early.
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Summer School
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Although many people view summer school as a way for students to make up classes they have failed, it is also a viable option for motivated students to get ahead. Summer is a good time to satisfy your elective credit requirements by taking classes that are fun and interesting; they may not feel like these courses are work at all. If you start as a freshman, you can earn a few course credits per summer and easily have enough to graduate by the time you reach your junior year.
Community College
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Many schools allow dual enrollment in high school and community college for students whose academic records show that they are capable of handling the extra work. This option particularly suits students who aren't feeling intellectually stimulated in high school; community college courses allow them to interact with older, more mature students at the same time that they're earning course credits for both high school and college.
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References
- Photo Credit graduation image by timur1970 from Fotolia.com
